Michael M.
Michael M.
Highlights
Pet care experience
Will your dog want to leave here?!!
Born into families with pets, Lorraine & I have between us lived with and looked after 2 Yorkies, 5 German Shepherds, 2 Corgis, a Saint Bernard, a Black Lab and a Bearded Collie, and a springy Springer Spaniel (our daughters' dog) - not to mention more than 6 Shetland Ponies. Retired from farming life we are "between dogs" having recently lost our Beardie, so looking to fill the house with hounds again to keep us busy. Dogs have been such a big part of our lives they have been family. Our dogs have been timid (the Beardie), outwardly scary (the GSDs) so we are very mindful of dogs differing personalities and traits and breed behaviors and act accordingly at all times. Happy to look after any dog and any size and have four feet battering all over the house again! We can also look after 2 dogs at the same if they're from the same (human) family; often having our own and our families dogs in the house in days gone by! So far we've been lucky enough to have dogs varying from tiny Shih Tzus to a large Malamute (one of the best natured dogs you could wish to meet) which was like having GSDs about again in size!
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
Michael and Lorraine are fantastic dog sitters. Baxter is always so excited to be dropped off at their house and they take wonderful care of him and send regular updates. Thank you!
Excellent as always. Baxter loves staying with Mike and Lorraine and they take wonderful care of him. Thank you :)
Absolutely great as always! Mike and Lorraine take such good care of Baxter and keep us 100% up to date about his medication which puts us at ease when we’re away. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.
Lola looked like she had a great time with Michael! Lots of photos and updates which were all very welcomed!
Mike and Lorraine are excellent, our dog Baxter is so excited when we drop him off so we know they take great care of him. He also needs medication at set times and Mike always lets us know he’s had it so we don’t have to worry.
Michael was great! Communication was good & very quick. He’s obviously a dog lover and Callie settled in very nicely. Michael took her for a walk on the beach (Callie favourite place!) and he kept me updated with photos and messages throughout the day, while we explored Edinburgh Castle & the museums etc. I’d have no hesitation in asking Michael to look after Callie in the future and would recommend him 100%.
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
Dogs have been a part of my life and my wifes' life, and a day without a dog has been a poor day. Walking dogs in snow, rain, sun and wind is just a normal day for us as we like the outdoors anyway. Short walks long walks, whatever! Now we are retired my wife and I have even more time on our hands to look after dogs
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
Pets have always been part of the family and as such live with us and share our house. We even have a stair gate not for humans but dogs - our last dog damaged her ACL in her right knee and we needed to keep her off the stairs and stop her climbing for 6 months; hence a stair gate! We have enclosed back garden, gated and fenced in and your dog will have the run of the house and garden. Dogs have always been walked on an extending or fixed length lead (your decision) other than when we farmed and they had the run of the place then. Dogs have been fed regularily, walked regularily and despite some of them being fire guards when it's cold, they are "family". We have found that is a losing battle :-). We ask that any dog we look after is supplied with his / her own food, (meds if required) blanket and lead if possible to maintain familiarity and a connection with normal life at home whilst you are away. They will be feed as per their normal routine, walked as close to that as possible and weather permitting, the back door is always open to the garden. Our own dogs have always loved being outside so we've let them have that whenever possible. I know the profile says only 1 dog per stay BUT, if you have two dogs in your family then we can consider that without a problem as obviously the two are company, know each other and are " your family dogs - plural" so we do consider that. (This was asked by a potential client who has 2 dogs in their family, so thank you for the prompt asking us to clarify!)
A typical day
Living where we do and in the house we have, dogs have unlimited access to the back garden - conservatory doors open whenever the weather is kind enough. We are lucky ot have fields and beaches within 100 yards or so, not to mention plenty of short walk options with grass. My wife and i are used to dogs that are happy with their own company a lot of the time, and with dogs always up and about. Please bring any of your dogs toys, blankets, bowls etc that will help them settle and have as normal a daily life as they would have with you.
- 0 to 7 kg7 to 18 kg18 to 45 kgover 45 kgSpayed and neutered dogs onlyNo females in heatTakes only 1 client at a timeMichael can host up to 2 pets per night
- Let us know if your dogs have any special needs, medicines (and how they are administered; we only provide oral medications (as per your written instructions) either individually or mixed into food ), and any special routines your dog has. Please supply their own food and written instructions on feeding amounts / times etc and when your dog prefers to go out etc. Importantly though, please supply pic or copy of fully up to date Vaccination Certificate; and insurance details. I know our profile says only 1 dog per stay BUT, if you have two dogs in your family then we welcome that without a problem as obviously the two are company, know each other and are " your family dogs - plural" so we do consider that. (This was asked by a potential client who has 2 dogs in their family, so thank you for the prompt; and we ourselves in days gone by had two dogs in the house on too many occasions to count!)